1916: Looters turned anything they could into weapons on O'Connell Street

A cast iron toffee axe — normally used to break up large slabs of toffee in confectioner shops — became a weapon in the hands of a looter in O’Connell St.

It was thrown at a policeman during the chaos of the 1916 Rising.

Just before 12pm on Monday April 24, Patrick Pearse stood at the front of the GPO and read the Proclamation declaring the Irish Republic. Shortly afterwards, the looting in Dublin’s main street began.